June 6, 1944 - a moment to pause

[Ombligo]

Lets remember and reflect…


Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!
You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.
Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely.
But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory!
I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle.
We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Order of the Day (2 June 1944) Gen. D.Eisenhower's message to troops before the Normandy landings

[modelamac]

Thank you, brave ones.

[WHiiP]

Thank you, all military people. Those who have gone before, and those now serving! We would not be America, land of the free, without all your sacrifices!

"Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking."

[Speedy]

Thank you.

[DP]

Never forget their sacrifice...

[mrlynn]

I heard the author of this book, Patrick K. O'Donnell, interviewed last night on John Batchelor's radio show:



I have never understood how the Rangers managed to scale those cliffs in the face of withering fire. The author interviewed as many men as he could find, from both sides, for this book.

http://www.patrickkodonnell.com/dogcompany.html

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0306822644/ref=rdr_ext_tmb

Listen to President Ronald Reagan commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Normandy Invasion, D-day at Pointe-du-Hoc - June 6, 1984:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eEIqdcHbc8I

/Mr Lynn

[Rolando]

Last year I posted on Facebook:
"I think I would have sh!t my pants. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been alone. Then I would have gone forward."

Thanks to all who served!

[Mini 9]

Thanks Dad! Thanks all! I wish we (all) strived better each day for your sacrifices.

[decay]

Seventy years ago.

Deep respect and reverence for that level of courage.

I now call for that level of courage to work as diligently for peace.

[cbelt3]

Thank you indeed. All the allied soldiers that took place in the assault that signaled the end of the Third Reich, and the hope of freedom for the Continent.

If you ever get a chance to stand on one of those beaches, see the ruins of the immense German fortifications, and just get a feeling for the sheer scope of such an event. It's staggering. I stood on top of one of the fortifications over Gold Beach as a teenager in the early 1970's. The sheer size of the enormous concrete bunkers that were just cracked and tossed like a child's plaything by demolition explosives was staggering.

Visiting a battlefield with an understanding of the battle produces visions and a deeper understanding of the struggle and the suffering involved. We may feel national pride, but I hope we also feel a desire that this not have to happen again.